Posts Tagged ‘sweet’

Of course, one of the things we are spoiled for choice on in Belgium is all things cocoa related!

I have my favourite chocolatiers – Zaabar and Blondeel are on the list. Zaabar for their chocolate bars of different cocoa origins, and Blondeel for their hot chocolates. There are others I must try – Wittamer is one I have often heard recommended. But I stick to St Catherine for this post.

The tea house has varied the selection in the past, but recently stuck to tried and tested – Venezuela – lower cocoa content but with chili powder and lemongrass flavour, Ghana (85% coca) with vanilla, cinnamon and aniseed (not strong), Madagascar (63% simple cocoa and milk), Safraan – more expensive 63% topped with frothed milk and real safran, and the 100% cocoa with mountain honey – that I love but that shouldn’t be considered as a drinking chocolate 😉

If you go with few people, try each! I’m also told their coffees are excellent. Their tea suffers from the typical Belgian problem of not being served hot enough in my British opinion. The Ghana is stronger on the cocoa content, and velvety smooth. The Venezuela was very hot on the chili to start with, with the lemongrass coming through more towards the bottom of the cup. This one is harder to taste the cocoa, it’s somewhat overpowered. The safran one was the biggest disappointment to me. It’s more expensive and much milkier. Maybe my palate is not refined enough, but I couldn’t taste the safran in this. My favourite remains the 100% – but I eat it with a spoon. It is not sweet, nor milky, despite being based on milk and chocolate. The honey adds a delightful wild flavour to the cocoa, but this is not a refreshing drink. It’s a medicinal pick me up filled with endorphins and feel-good factor!

They always put 2 chocolates beside your hot chocolate, as well as a glass of water that is much appreciated. One is their most famous praline based on florentine pieces – caramelised sugar with small nuts in it. You can ask to select chocolates from the counter for a small extra cost to enjoy with your drinks (the price varies with who is serving!). They offer great flavours – including chili, wasabi, sea salt, earl grey, jasmine and rosemary. At 10 euros per 100g, you will only take away a few chocolates in a plastic bag unless you are on a splurge.

This place is often busy for the sit-down, but worth a visit! if it’s too packed, pop round the corner to Charli to test their pain au chocolat. I’ve since tested their beer and pumpkin seed bread and it is worth the trip!

I got a surprise when eating some dessert, since it only looked like chunky brown sugar, but as soon as it contacted the water in my mouth, little fireworks went off in my mouth. The guy sitting next to me could hear it through my cheeks. I was either being drugged or being fed something similar to Poprocks candy, except Dutch or Flemish, and fortunately there was no pain involved despite what I titled this post. The surprise was nice. I can imagine using it for random desserts, drinks, and pranks. Go search for some explosiesuiker on the web, and you’ll see what I mean.

By the way, if you’re looking for a caterer for business or party events, the food prepared by Kwizine pretty much is on par with the high-class pictures on the website. I highly recommend looking into the small business.

I was admittedly suspicious of the stuff. The other beverages available included something like tea with yak’s butter and spices, and this seemed on par: organic cola. Is it made with sugar and flavors raised without chemicals? That’s cool. And how hippie is that?

Not just organic cola, but vegan–compatible cola. Apparently there are no chunks of hormone-fed beef in this soda, and that makes me feel much better about it.

From what I was told, it tasted pretty much as expected and confirmed all lingering suspicions one might have before drinking it. But it was potable. Not bad. Especially for the vegans. Or for the folk who like to step out of their comfort zones to taste something sweet like liquid candy and herbs.

Anyway, this is my faulty, perhaps imaginative memory of what someone else told me about the taste, so go over to Dolma off Flagey yourself to try it if you’re curious.

“Nutty Cola Nut”. Ha.

Finally, on a very tangential random note, here’s a photo of my favorite selection from Dolma, the roasted marinated pumpkin with avocado. Fantastic:

One can understand the steady price inflation at El Vergel over the years because its food is so darn good. Portion sizes might not satisfy everyone, but the flavors should. Case in point: the El Vergel cheesecake.

Don’t ask me what’s so Latin American about this cheesecake, but I’m not complaining. It boasts a smoother and creamier texture than some New York or Chicago cheesecakes, and there definitely is no air or puffiness to it. It’s really rich, but miraculously at the same time it’s not too rich, and like gourmet Marcolini chocolates, the sweetness doesn’t overpower the senses or leave your mouth dry. The crust also balances out the creaminess perfectly, with a strong biscuit-cookie taste and crumbly texture and just the tiniest, tiniest hint of saltiness. This cheesecake in a word: fantastic.

The only complaint is that the individual slices are getting smaller at the restaurant! Just buy a whole pie to avoid the trouble and cut yourself your own huge piece.

Quick tip: Those sweet and rich Chinese egg custards really can be found in Brussels! Just visit the center. Excellent stuff. Stop by the small bakery across the street from Kam Yuen to catch your fill before they’re all gone. Don’t expect a huge selection after lunchtime.